Staff: Leave some items out of Crystal Lake plans for now

URBANA — A climbing wall and three other items will be left out of construction plans — for now — for the new $8.8 million Urbana aquatic center, under a staff recommendation going to the Urbana park board Tuesday (Aug.7).

But the items could be reinstated later, depending on new funding, park district Executive Director Vicki Mayes said Monday.

A staff recommendation, to be voted on by the park board at a special meeting this afternoon, calls for awarding a construction contract to Broeren Russo Construction of Champaign with a base bid of $6.5 million. Three alternate projects will be added to bring the total contract to $6.89 million.

The three alternate features making the cut are a $210,000 streambed feature that is covered by a state grant, a $132,500 enclosed water slide and a $20,500 irrigation system.

Alternate features that the park district staff recommends not be part of the construction project include $136,500 to resurface the old Crystal Lake Pool parking lot, $81,000 for a stone retaining wall for landscape beds, $6,700 for a bathhouse walls tile base and $86,700 for a climbing wall in the deep plunge pool section of the aquatic center.

The climbing wall, about 6 feet high, would be for teenage pool users. It arcs over the pool surface, allowing users to climb and drop into the pool.

Mayes said the alternate features could be added, perhaps as soon as next month, if alternate revenue sources are found.

"In September, we may come back with a package to get some of these other projects done," she said.

The aquatic center also has a $305,454 contingency fund, she noted. Many of the alternate features can be added to the finished project in future years.

The aquatic center, to be built on the same site in Crystal Lake Park where the park district has had a pool since 1927, is projected to be open next June 1. The old Crystal Lake Pool was closed in 2008 because of safety concerns. Urbana voters approved a tax increase in the spring of 2011 to pay for the aquatic center that will include a new bathhouse, a lap pool, leisure pools and a sprayground.

Today's special park board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the park district's planning and operations facility at 1011 Kerr Ave., U.

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"a $210,000 streambed feature that is covered by a state grant"...... Sure.... the State of Illinois is broke..... What is $210,000 grant here, and another grant there? It's only money. Why not get another $310,900 from the state for the other features? At least, get another $86,700 for the climbing wall. That is a really cool feature. The teens need it. Don't use state money for debts, and obligations. Don't use it to replace cuts for protection of abused kids. Spend it on something cool.